TOXIC TVs
February 17, 2009 marks the day that television stations nationwide will go all-digital. After that, analog signals will cease to exist and will be converted to digital.
If you have a newer television, there’s nothing to worry about, since it already has a built-in digital tuner. It’s time to make some changes, though, if you’re using a standard antenna.
To prepare for the digital switchover, you can either purchase a converter box to convert the digital signal to analog, purchase a new TV with a built-in digital tuner or subscribe to a cable or satellite service that carries local broadcast stations.
Many Americans will use this as the perfect opportunity to upgrade—in fact, it is estimated that the conversion will initiate the purchase of more than 30 million new TVs.
But what do you do with your old TV? It’s not as easy as tossing it to the curb with the rest of the garbage—within that obsolete box sits up to eight pounds of toxic lead.
During the lifetime of the TV, that lead serves an important purpose—protecting you from radiation. But when it’s sent to the landfill, it becomes an environmental threat. If you are upgrading to a newer TV, here are some options for you to recycle your old one.
If your set is still in working order, try one of these places:
Office Depot
801 W. Lake St., Peoria, IL
(309) 681-0001
Office Depot accepts small TVs as a part of their Tech Box Recycling Program. The service costs $5, $10 or $15 per box, which includes shipping, handling and recycling.
Goodwill Industries
2319 E. War Memorial Dr., Peoria, IL
(309) 682-1113
Donate your sets here if they are in reusable condition. Visit goodwillpeo.org for additional locations.
If your set no longer works, try these e-cycling options (disposal fees may apply):
Recycling for Illinois, Inc.
309 Mechanic St., Pekin, IL
(309) 642-6225
Retro Tech Electronics
625 W. Main St., Peoria, IL
(309) 682-0675
For more information on the digital switchover,
visit dtvanswers.com. For more options on what to do with your old TV, go to www.earth911.org.
LIVING BEYOND YOUR MEANS?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, personal savings rates haven’t been this low since the Great Depression. Americans are accruing more and more debt, leaving less cushion in a down economy. Are you living beyond your means? Here are five key indicators:
- Your credit score is below 600
- You are saving less than 5%
- Your credit card balances are rising
- More than 28% of income goes to your house
- Your bills are spiraling out of control.
Source: www.Investopedia.com
LINCOLN AT PEORIA
A book released on July 4, 2008 entitled Lincoln at Peoria discusses the significance of Abraham Lincoln’s “Peoria speech,” delivered on October 16, 1854, which brought the then-retired future president back into the political arena. Sen. Stephen Douglas wanted to leave the decision of allowing slavery up to the Kansas and Nebraska territories, a position which fired up Lincoln, a passionate opponent of slavery. “[Author Lewis E. Lehrman] convincingly argues that Peoria marks the inflection point in Lincoln’s political development, when he discovered both the essence of the cause he embraced and the most persuasive way to convey it,” wrote Christopher Levenick of The Wall Street Journal. Lehrman asserts it was the Peoria speech which made Lincoln Lincoln.
BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
A common faux pas is addressing individuals by their first names without permission, an increasingly common practice in this informal age of texting and IMs.
- When meeting someone for the first time, and that person is prominent within his/her field or at least two decades older than you, use “Mr./Mrs./Ms.” with their last name.
- Wait until you are invited to address a telephone contact by his/her first name—especially if for the first time.
- Do not ask for permission to use a first name—if the person wants to move to this level of familiarity, you will hear about it! iBi
Source: Business Etiquette by Ann Marie Sabath
A SURPRISING FASHION CRAZE
These days, it’s not just designer dresses and imported handbags that consumers go crazy for—it’s the bags they come in as well. In recent years, stores have realized that their customers tend to use and reuse their shopping bags, opening a door to potentially unmatchable marketing opportunities. Especially in large cities, shopping bags make a fashion statement and double as second purses—we love multi-purpose accessories!
Michael Barbaro of The New York Times notes that reusable shopping bags might contradict the rising trend of upscale handbags, “but it turns out that some consumers are eager to walk around with a $1,000 Coach purse on one arm and the Coach shopping bag it came in on the other.”
With such a big push for reducing waste, reusing products and recycling materials, Americans like the idea of heavy-duty bags because they look nicer and last longer. This mindset has created competition among stores to produce great bags which will draw customers. As surprising as it may seem, when choosing their shopping destinations, some consumers actually consider and weigh the bag with which they will walk out. In addition to the prospect of free advertising, this has caused some stores to spend major time and money on redesigning their shopping bags.
MY FAVORITES
Sue Yoder is vice president of marketing at CEFCU, one of America’s largest community-based credit unions, serving more than 230,000 members in 50 states and several foreign countries.
Five Favorite Books
Plum Island by Nelson DeMille
It’s cliché to say, but you really won’t be able to put this one down. A top-secret animal disease research site on Plum Island sets up a chilling link between a murder, missing genetically altered viruses, and a race against time to stop the possible release of a deadly plague. While it doesn’t sound like it, there’s a lot of humor and romance mixed in with the suspense.
The Charm School by Nelson DeMille
You won’t be expecting what happens in this book. It’s one of the most chilling Cold War novels ever written.
The Gold Coast by Nelson DeMille
A wealthy Wall Street lawyer and a Mafia don make strange neighbors; eventually, the lawyer is drawn into the gritty, violent world of the Mafia. It’s all there: humor, suspense, friendship, love and betrayal.
The Lion’s Game by Nelson DeMille
The Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force, a Libyan defector arriving at JFK and everyone on the inbound flight is dead. This story about a terrorist attack could have been written today. (I confess. I really like DeMille.)
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
I just finished this book. It’s better than the movie—an interesting look at palace life in Tudor England and the history preceding Queen Elizabeth I. I’m glad I live in the USA in 2008!
Five Favorite CDs
Andrea Bocelli: The Best of Andrea Bocelli
“The Prayer,” with Celine Dion is in a class by itself. Simply beautiful.
Josh Groban: Closer
Open a bottle of wine for this one.
James Taylor: The Best of James Taylor
Along with his easy style, he really kicks it with a live version of “Steamroller.” James Taylor performed at the Civic Center last year and was wonderful—he’s still having fun entertaining fans and sharing his music after more than 30 years!
Dan Fogelberg: Home Free
Home Free reminds me of the Dan I knew back in high school at Woodruff. He filled my youth with beautiful words and music. Dan left a mark on this world and is missed by many.
The Eagles: Long Road Out of Eden
Full of old nostalgic sounds, with some new classics. iBi
BRAINSTORMING MEETINGS
Brainstorming meetings are essential to successful businesses, and, when done right, they can be very effective. If that meeting is not well organized, however, it can turn disastrous. Here are some tips on how to organize a successful brainstorming meeting:
- Have a team that trusts and respects each other. Without this, real brainstorming won’t take place, and all that will happen is political posturing.
- Keep the attendance at the meeting to 10 people or less in most circumstances.
- Email participants the issue to be brainstormed 24 hours before the meeting. This gives people time to think about the issue before arriving at the meeting.
- Have a three-part agenda for the meeting. First, state the issue to be brainstormed. Second, brainstorm. Third, delegate and state future actions and deadlines. Each section should have a set amount of time allotted to it, and a stop watch should be used to stay true to the time commitment.
- Have someone who is not part of the discussion act as moderator.
- Keep the discussion lively. Focus on ideas instead of people. iBi
Source: www.unclutterer.com
PRINTING GREEN
In 2004, the United States used eight million tons of office paper, the equivalent of 178 million trees, according to a report from the NADEP North Island Environmental Program Office. And each day, the average employee will print six wasted pages, according to a 2006 Lexmark Paper Waste press release. These wasted pages end up littering homes and offices around the world and wasting money, trees and time!
GreenPrint is trying to combat this problem with their patent-pending software. Often, when printing from the web browser, the last printed page is unnecessary and wasteful, with just a URL, banner ad, logo or legal jargon on it. GreenPrint’s technology analyzes each page of every document sent to the printer, looking for typical waste characteristics and eliminating such pages.
Also included in the software is an easy-to-use PDF writer, a print preview and a reporting feature that keeps track of how many pages and money is saved. GreenPrint has two options for home users: GreenPrint World, a free version, and GreenPrint Home Premium. GreenPrint World is available at no cost to home users around the globe, but has limited features and includes advertising. GreenPrint’s Enterprise Edition is available for companies of any size.
GreenPrint estimates that widespread use of the software would save more than 100 million trees and reduce 300 million tons of greenhouse gasses. They also predict that if all U.S. households with a computer used GreenPrint, more than $6 billion would be saved. To find out more, visit www.printgreener.com. iBi
